David Joris and Dutch Anabaptism, 1524-1543

248 Pages·1990·18.351 MB·English

by  Gary K. Waite

David
J
|oris
and Dutch
Anabaptism
1524-1543
Gary K. Waite
Wilfrid Laurier University Press
Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data
Waite, Gary K., 1955-
David Joris and Dutch Anabaptism, 1524-1543
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 0-88920-992-8
1. Joris, David, b. 1501 or 2. 2. Anabaptists -
Netherlands - History. 3. Anabaptists - Netherlands -
Biography. 4. Davidists - Biography. I. Title.
BX4946.J8W35 1990 284'.3'092 C90-095288-1
Copyright © 1990
Wilfrid Laurier University Press
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
N2L 3C5
Cover design by Rick McLaughlin
Printed in Canada
David Joris and Dutch Anabaptism, 1524-1543 has been produced from a manuscript su
plied in electronic form by the author.
All rights reserved. No part of this work covered by the copyrights hereon may be repro-
duced or used in any form or by any means — graphic, electronic or mechanical — witho
the prior written permission of the publisher. Any request for photocopying, recording,
taping, or reproducing in information storage and retrieval systems of any part of this book
shall be directed in writing to the Canadian Reprography Collective, 379 Adelaide Street
West, Suite Ml, Toronto, Ontario M5V 1S5.
To the memory of my parents
Audrey and Robert Waite
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Contents
List of Illustrations vii
List of Tables and Maps viii
Acknowledgements ix
Abbreviations xi
Introduction 1
Part I. The Reformation in the Netherlands, 1519-35
Chapter
One The Early Reform Movement in the Netherlands 7
Two The Anabaptist Movement in Holland, 1531-35 23
Part II. David Joris: Life, Thought and Following, 1501-43
Three From Sacramentarian Lay Reformer to Melchiorite
Sympathiser, 1501-33 49
Four From Anabaptist to Nicodemite, 1534-39 65
Five Joris' Early Theology, 1534-36 89
Six Joris and the Post-Munster Radicals, 1536-39 113
Seven Confrontation with the Elders of Israel:
The Strasbourg Debate 129
Eight Joris' Followers and Supporters: A Social Analysis 145
Nine Joris' Asylum in Antwerp, 1539-44 163
Ten Joris in Basel, 1544-56 177
Appendix
I Anabaptist Leaders Active after 1535 195
II Jorien Ketel's Confession 197
III Ketel's Letter to His Wife 201
IV Leonard van Dam's Vision of the Heavenly Man 203
V Public Confession of Sins 207
VI The Internal Restitution 211
Bibliography 213
Index 229
v
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List of Illustrations
Portrait of David Joris; Frisian School, c. 1550-55 xii
Glass round portraying allegorical virtues: Charity/Love;
c. 1544-56. Ascribed to David Joris 6
Glass round portraying allegorical virtue: Righteousness;
c. 1544-56. Ascribed to David Joris 22
Title page: David Joris, A Very Lovely Tract on the
Beauty of the Beloved (Deventer: Albert Pafraet, 1539) 48
David Joris, "The Fountain of Life" from Wonder
Book (Deventer: Dirk van Borne, c. 1543) 64
David Joris, "The New Man" from Wonder Book,
Part II 88
Engraving by Hieronymus Wiericx, after David Joris, "The True
Restoration or Restitution, the Image of the Bride of Christ"
from Wonder Book, 1551 edition (n.p., [1584]), Part III 95
David Joris, "The Lamb of God and the Lion of Judah" from
Wonder Book, Part I 112
Engraving by Hieronymus Wiericx, after David Joris, "The
Steps to the Way, the Truth and the Life" from Wonder
Book, 1551 edition, Part IV 128
Title page: Wonder Book (Deventer: Dirk van Borne,
c. 1543) 162
Joris' chateau in Binningen, near Basel 176
vii
List of Tables and Maps
Table
I Occupations of Anabaptists in Amsterdam, 1531-35 29
II Amsterdam and Frisian Leaders 30
III Occupations of Reformers, 1525-28 31
IV Prosecutions of Reform Activity, 1514-28 33
V Amsterdam Anabaptist Migrants 36
VI Anabaptist Leaders 114
VII Localities of Davidites 147
VIII Occupations of Davidite Leaders 150
IX Anabaptist Progression 169
Map
1 Location of Anabaptist Leaders 115
2 Davidite Groups and Davidites in Delft 146
viii
Acknowledgements
Like most major projects, this book was not completed in solitude. While
responsibility for any errors belongs entirely to the author, he acknowledges
an immense debt of gratitude for the helpful criticism and suggestions of
numerous people which aided the transformation of a mass of research notes
into a coherent whole.
In an earlier form the project existed as my doctoral dissertation. Inesti-
mable thanks, therefore, are due to my mentor, Professor Werner O. Packull,
whose constant support, encouragement and criticism helped form the back-
bone of this study. I would also like to thank my former colleagues at the
University of Waterloo, Professors John English, Stanley Johannesen,
Walter Klaassen, David John, John New, and Arnold Snyder; and Professor
James M. Stayer of Queen's University and Dr. Samme Zijlstra of
Groningen, for reading all or portions of the dissertation and offering many
illuminating and helpful suggestions. Throughout the process of revision
Colleen Johnston of Waterloo successfully trod the fine line between patient
literary critic and close friend.
The transition from dissertation to book was aided inestimably by the
two anonymous readers appointed by the Canadian Federation for the
Humanities whose remarks were both objective and insightful. In the later
stages, Professor Peter Erb of Wilfrid Laurier University graciously took the
time to go through the manuscript, helping to reshape it into its final form. I
am also thankful for the many friendly and useful comments from members
of the Anabaptist Colloquium, to whom I read portions of chapters in vari-
ous times and places. I have furthermore profited from the scholarly dia-
logue experienced at other conferences, in particular the Sixteenth Century
Studies Conference (1984 and 1986), the Canadian Society for Renaissance
Studies (1985 and 1987), and the Waterloo Consortium for Reformation
Studies (1987).
I would like to thank the staffs of the Gemeente Archief Amsterdam,
Stad Antwerpen Stadsarchief, and of the Archives and Libraries of the
Universities of Amsterdam, Basel, Waterloo and New Brunswick for their
courteous and efficient service. Having to put up most with my research
needs were Sam Steiner and the staff of the Library of Conrad Grebel Col-
lege, who handled my frequent queries with both professionalism and per-
ix